The Detroit Lions will bring similar challenges as the Atlanta Falcons when they face off with the Saints in Week 13.
Preventing the same story from playing out in the ground game will be pivotal for the Saints to pull out a win, explains WWL Radio's Deuce McAllister.
Listen to the full breakdown from Deuce McAllister in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
"Here’s the thing that has regressed for the Saints when you talk about run defense: tackling. … You looked sloppy tackling this week," McAllister said, "and that’s just being honest. You did not tackle. They had way too many yards after contact."
In Week 12 that resulted in a grand total of 228 rushing yards and well over 5 yards per carry. Reaching similar numbers will be the same goal of a Lions offense currently ranked No. 2 in the NFL overall, and No. 6 in rushing yardage behind the talented duo of David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, along with one of the top offensive lines in the league.
"You can talk about all this other stuff and the weapons and everything," McAllister continues. "Jared Goff, you’ve got to beat me."
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To his credit Goff has been efficient and effective in an offense that thrives on the run and play-action game. He's completed 64.6% of his passes on the season for 3,075 yards and 18 TDs against 8 interceptions. But what he doesn't do is run the ball, having logged just 23 yards rushing on the season. If the Saints pass rush can get home, it could be a get-right game. In order for that to happen, the run defense has to hold up.
"[Goff] can make the throws, we don’t doubt that. He’s got the arm. He’s got the talent," McAllister said. "He’ll give you a chance, I’ll put it that way. And ... if you can get around him, he’s not running — you can get strips. He will put it on the ground. You can get the ball out of his hands, but here’s what it all comes down to: You earn the right to rush the passer. And if you aren’t stopping the run, you don’t earn the right to rush the passer.”
To this point sacks have been hard to come by with just 18 total on the season, a figure that ranks No. 30 in the NFL. The Saints didn't log a sack against Desmond Ridder in Week 13, and Carl Granderson -- who leads the team with 5.5 -- hasn't registered a sack since October.
The Saints (5-6) host the Lions (8-3) on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.